Insulator



E. F. RIESING INSULATOR Filed Sept.v 22, 1939 Sept. 2,1941.

3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTO R Zwam-MM35 ATTORNEYS A Sept. 2,'1941'. F. RlEslNG INSULA'TOR Filed Sept. 22, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 2, 1941.

E. F. RIESING INSULATOR Filed sept. 22, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTQR 2L www E Fles/N6' ATTORN EYS to the sub-cross member II.

lpruritoSTATES PATENT OFFICEA INSULATOR Ellwood F. Riesing, Akron, Ohio, assigner to The 4 Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron,

` Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application september 22, 1939, serai No. 296,081 (ci. 24a-45s) 14 Claims.

l This invention relates to insulators of the type used for interposition between two relatively movable bodies to suppress the translation of vlbration therebetween, and more especially it relates to vibration insulators for use between the axles and the body structure of a motor vehicle.

The chief objects of the invention are to promentioned that employs rubber as a medium for insulating two relatively movable structures from each other; that is so constructed that relative in Figure 3, the portions of the members Il, I3

that engage with the insulator lo are of @hanna scopic relation to the latter.

vide an improved insulator of the character lateral movement and relative fore and aft movement of the supporting and the supported members is opposed by the resistance to compression of the rubber; and is so constructed that vertical movement of one member toward the other places a portion of the rubber under tension and shear stress, and exerts compressive stress upon a progressively increasing area of another portion of the rubber to increase the deflection rate of the insulator. Other objects will be manifest as the description proceeds.

The invention will'be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an insulator embodying the invention in operative association with dual cross members of a vehicle;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan, vpartly in section, of aportion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; y

Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Figure 2, under no loadA condition;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the insulator of Figure 2 under load;

Figure 5 is a side elevation Figure 2 under load:

Figure 6 is an elevation, similar to Figure l, of a modified embodiment oi the invention;

Figure '7 is a sectionon the line 1-1 of Figure of the insulator oi Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-4 oi Figure 6; and

Figure 9 is a plan view of the insulator alone.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, a standard vehicle spring I0 is shown and it is secured to a substantially U-shaped, 'in section, sub-cross member II. The sub-cross member II serves as a support for the body of the vehicle through two mountings or insulators, indicated generally by I2, which tover the cross member at its ends and which in turn engage with and support Figures 2 and 3 show the details of the insulator I2 which comprises a face plate, or inner memmounting to the main cross member I3. Separate rubber bodies I1, substantially inverted L- shape in section, are bonded, as by vulcanization, to opposite outer sides of the inner member I4 (extending the height thereof) and to the inner surface of the side plates I5 to form a unit therefrom. Thus the side plates I5 are resiliently connected to and separated from the inner member by leg portions of the rubber bodies- I1. Pairs of inwardly directed side flanges Il are formed on each of the outer members I5,

while pairs of outwardly struck flanges I9 are formed on opposite sides of lthe member Il, as shown. Both pairs of flanges I8 and I8 extend up about haii the height of the ymembers I5 and I4, respectively, with arcuate recessed portions I8a and ISa being provided in the members at the upper lends of the anges to reduce the stresses set up in the members by formation ofl j n the iianges. The flanges I8 are embedded inthe a main cross member I3 that is associated` with A rubber bodies while the flanges I9 form anv end limit therefor. In all events, the space between A- the pair of adjacent anges IB and I8 is lled with rubber that is bonded to the metal anges.

Thus on longitudinal movement of either the inner or outer member relative tothe other, a'. volume of rubber between one pair of adJacent anges will be compressed and the rubber between the other pair of adjacent anges will be placed under tension. These actions combine to resist extensive longitudinal movement or either the inner or outer member relative to each other. 0f course, this maintains lateral stability andprevents excessive lateral movement of the' vehicle body relative to the running gear. As the rubber extends around the ends of and be. tween the flanges I8, this portion of the rubber also Vacts to resist relative movement of the inner and outer members. l

l The main load carried by the mounting I2 usually is a compression load. To aid in suplporting this load, the upper 'anges I6 of the outer members I bear upon the upper surface desirable to make the L shaped rubber bodies as an integral U shaped body. In all events, the load placed upon the main` cross member I3 is transferred through the flanges I5 to the rubber body I1. Figures 3 and 5 show the relation-l ship of the members and rubber support when unloaded and loaded, respectively, and it is seen that the rubber arms 2| are flattened and made of more uniform thickness when under load. This increase in thickness of a portion of the projection acts to place more rubber surface in contact with the supported member and is a feature of the invention. As this area of contact with the supported member increases, a portion of the arm will be directly compressed between the main cross member and the upper surface of the inner member although a large portion of the load is still carried to the inner member through shear and tensioning forces.

Bolts 22 extend through holes 22a formed in the upper portion of the inner member I4 to secure sameto the sub-cross member Il while bolts 23 engage with holes 26 in the outer members I5 to Secure them to the main cross member I3. A substantially rectangular portion 24, having an arcuate top surface, of the rubber bodies I1 is Acut out to providea space between the inner and outer members for receiving the heads of the bolts 23. This cut out portion 24 extends substantially the height of the inner member I4 (Figure 3). Thus the bolts 23 .can be inserted from the bottom of the mounting I2 after it is engaged with the sub-cross member. A recessed section 24a may also be provided in the inner member I4 to facilitate positioning and securing the bolts 23.

Figure 2 shows that grooves 25 are formed in I the upper surface of the rubber body I1. These grooves extend from the edges of the anges I5 of the outer members 4to the end of the arms 2I adjacent each end of the rubber body. The heads of the 'bolts 22 are received in these grooves to prevent the main cross 'member from ever bearing or bottoming on same.

For securing the insulator to'a second, and

lower channelled cross member IIa, two headed studs 48, 48 extend through the horizontal'por tion of the inner member 42 adjacent the oppo-` site ends thereof, said studs being swedged therein so as not to turn relatively thereof. 'I'he head of each stud 48 is disposed on the top side of the member 42, and is thinly overlaid by rubber o f the structure 4I. The studs 48 are insertable through respective apertures in the horizontal portion of lower cross member IIa, and are threaded to receive nuts 49, wherebyfsaid insulator is secured tosaid lower cross member.

'Ihis insulator 40, when assembled with the upper and lower cross members in the manner shown and described, is adapted yieldingly to oppose relative "movement of said members'in directions both longitudinally and transversely of the insulator, and movement oi' said members toward eachother in a vertical direction, similarly to the insulator I0. In this embodiment of the invention, means also is provided for resisting movement rof said cross members away from each other in a verticalv direction, such as occurs during rebound, and to this end the inner member 42 of the insulator is apertured at 5I, centrally of its horizontal portion, and the overlying rubber, structure 4I is formed with an ap y erture 52 that-is concentric with aperture 5I, but is of somewhat smaller diameter. The lower cross member Ila is formed in its horizontal portion with an aperture 53 that is of the same size as aperture 5I, the latter and the aperture 53l being registerable in the assembling of the insulator and face members. I'he upper cross member l3a is formed with an aperture 54 in its horizontal portion which aperture is smaller thanapertures 5I and 53, and is axially aligned therewith in the assembly of the structure. A threaded bolt 55 extends through apertures 5I', 52, 53 and 54, said bolt having a tubular sleeve 55 mounted thereon, the upper end of said sleeve abutting the under side of the horizontal portion of the member I3a, and the lower end of said sleeve being disposed below the horizontal portion of the member IIa. Mounted upon the Vlower end portion of sleeve 56 is an annular resilient rubber cushion v51, the top of which bears Referring to the modified insulator 40 shown in Figures 6 through 9, it is generally similar to the insulator I 0 and comprises an inverted U shaped rubber body 4I, an inner member 42 having pairs of outwardly directed flanges 43 on each side thereof, and side or face plates 44 having inwardly turned flanges 45 at the upper edges thereof. For attaching the insulator to a channelled cross member I3a, each vertical leg portion of the insulator has a metal insert 45 molded into the rubber structure thereof, said insert being disposed between the flanges 45 of the adjacentportion of ,inner member 42. Each insert 45 extends through a suitable Iaperture in the face plate 44 and is flush with the outer face of the latter, the insert having a shoulder thaty abuts the inner face of the face plate to prevent it frombeing pulled through the said against the under side of the horizontal portion of cross member' II a, the bottom of said cushion being engaged by a washer 53 on the bolt 55, said washer being urged against the cushion 51 by a nut 59 on said bolt, the sleeve 55 limiting the movement of the washer toward said cushion. The arrangement is such that the cushion 51 yieldingly resists rebound of the cross member I3a relatively of the cross member II a.

In the operation of the insulator, relative fore and aft movement ofthe cross members IIa, I3a is resisted by the leg portions of the rubber structure 4I, one of which is thereby subjected to compressive stress andA the other to tension. Relative lateral movement of the cross members, transversely of the vehicle, is resisted by the resistance of the rubber structure to compressive stresses set up when the inserts 45 move toward either of the tongues or flanges 43 between which they are positioned. Relative vertical movement of the cross members puts the leg portions of the rubber structure 4I under tension and shear stress, and puts the horizontal portion of the rubber structure, at the top thereof, under com-4 pressive stress, which stress progressively ingressively increases its area of contact with the 2,254,783 rubber by reason of the sloped, arcuate surfaces 60 at the top of the rubber structure. The rubber cushion 51 cushions the rebound that occurs during relative vertical movement of the upper and lower cross members. A feature of this form of the invention is that the bolt 55 forms a positive connection between the cross members Ila and 13a and thereby' limits the vertical movement therebetween, even though complete failure of the rubber bond occurs.

Since the rubber insulators of the invention eliminate any mechanical connection between of the horizontal portion-of the rubber structure adapted to engage` the outside of the inner channel, respective metal facings on the outer faces ofthe leg portions of the rubber structure engaging theinner lateral faces of the outer channel, and means connecting said facings to the inner and outer channels, the top face of the rubber structure beingexposed' to the upper the vehicle body and the running gear, they re- While a written description and illustration of two embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein, it will be understood that various modications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an insulator of the character described,

' the combination of resilient rubber means of general U shape, a metal facing bonded to the confronting faces of the vertical leg portions of the rubber means and to the contiguous bottomface of vthe intervening horizontal portion thereof, and metal facings bonded to the respective outwardly directed faces of saidleg portions, the upper margins of the latter facings-being turned toward each other, upon the top face of thehorizontal portion of the rubber means, for a distance equal to about half the thickness of' a vertical leg of the rubber structure.

, 2. In aninsulator of the character described, the combination of resilient rubber means of general U shape, a metal facing bonded to the. confronting faces of the leg portions of the rubber means and to the contiguous bottom face of the intervening horizontal portion thereof,

' metal facings bonded to the respective outwardly directed faces of saidleg portions, and means secured to said metal facings and extending laterally into the leg portions of the rubber means,

` in spaced intercalated relation, for effecting compressive stress of portions of the rubber means when said facings move relatively of each other.

channel, and so shaped as progressively to be brought into contact therewith upon relative movement of the channels toward each other.

5. An insulator as in claim 4 in which a mem-- ber for limiting the movement out of telescoped relation of the channels extends between the telescopically disposed channels.

6. A vibration insulator adapted to be positioned between two relatively movable, telescopically disposed channels, said insulator comprising a resilient rubber structure of general U shape, a metal facing bonded to the confronting rfaces of the leg portions of the rubber structure and the contiguous face of the intervening portion of the structure adapted to engage the outside of the inner channel, respective metal facings bonded to the outer lateral faces of the rubber structure adapted to engage the inner 3. An insulator of the character described;

comprising a resilient rubber structure of general U shape, a metal facing bonded to the confronting faces of the leg portions of the rubber structure and to the contiguous bottom face of the intervening horizontal portion thereof, metal facings bonded to the respective outwardly directed faces of said leg portions, integral tongues struck from the respective legs ofthe first mentioned facing and projecting ylaterally into the rubber structure in` parallel spaced relation to each other, and metal inserts in the rubber structure between each pair of tongues and secured to the respective facings on the outwardly directed faces of the leg portions' of the rubber structure.

4. An insulator' of the character described, adapted to be positioned between two telescopically disposed channels, said insulator comprising a resilient rubber structure of general U shape, a metal facing bonded to the confronting faces of the leg portions and the bottom face lateral faces of the outer channel, and means connecting said facings to the inner-and outer channels, the top face of the rubber structure K confronting the adjacent face of the upper channel and being formed with surfaces disposed at an angle to the channel whereby the rubber structure and channel are brought progressive- 1y into contact upon movement'of the channels toward each other. l

7. A` vibration insulator as defined in claim 6 wherein the top face of the rubber structure remote from the middle thereof is locally in contact with the bottom face of the outer channel under all conditions of service.

8. .A combination as dened in claim 6 wherein the metal facings on the outer lateralfaces of the rubber structure have their upper marginal portions extended laterally onto the top of the rubber structure a distance equal to about half the thickness of a les portion of the said structure. 9. A vibration insulator adapted to be positioned between two relatively movable, telescopically disposed channels, said insulator comprising a resilient rubber structure of general inverted channel shape, a metal facing bonded to the inner faces of the rubber structure, metal facings bonded to therespective outer lateral faces of the rubber structure, parallel, spacedapart, vertically disposed tongues struck out from the inner metal facing and extending laterally into the leg portions of the rubber structure,'re spective metal inserts-embedded in the rubber structure between each pair of tongues, said for securing the insulator to the outermost of the relatively movable channels, and means for I connecting the innermost metal facing to the inner channel.

10. An insulator comprising an inner member,

two side plates, and rubber bodies bonding said side plates to opposite sides of said inner member, said innermember having outwardly struck flanges intermediate the ends thereof adjacent its base, and said sidev plates having inwardly struck llflanges at the edges thereof adjacent their bases, said rubber bodies extending between and bonded to said flanges whereby relaand tension set up in rubber between adjacent overlapping anges.

11. Ifin insulator comprising an inner member adapted to be secured to a'support, two rubber bodiesbonded to opposed outer sides of said inner member and extending onto the top of said inner member in suilicient mass to provide a cushion thereon, and side plates bonded to the respective rubber bodies and having iianged upper portions that extend over a minor portion of the rubber bodies and are bonded thereto, said side plates being adapted to be secured to a supported member that rests upon said flanges, and be movedvdownwardly relative to said inner member when under load. l

12. An insulator comprising an inner member substantially channel shaped in section, rubber bodies bonded to opposite sides of said inner member and lbeing provided with arms extending over a substantial portion of the central portion of the inner member, side plates bonded to said rubber bodies and extending over a minor portion of the central portion thereof and being bonded thereto whereby load can be applied to Y said side vplates and transferred through said rubber to said inner member, said inner member being provided with outwardly directed flanges that are embedded in said rubber bodies and said side plates being provided with inwardly directed flanges at the ends thereof that abut l the ends of said rubber bodies whereby relative axial movement oi' said inner member and side plates is resisted.

minishing in thickness toward the middle thereoi so as progressively to eil'ect operative engagement with such spanningmember when the rubber structure is subject to load in a vertical direction.

14. An insulator unit comprising inner and outer 'members substantially channel shaped in section and arranged in nested relation, rubber bodies operably attached to the sides of said ixmer member and extending at least partially over the central portion of said inner member,

-the outer sides of said rubber bodies being operably attached to the sides of said outer member, the faces of the rubber bodies confronting the central portion of said outer member being so shaped as to progressively come into operative supporting relation between the central portions of said inner and outer channel members to supplement the shearing resistance of the rubber between the side members of the channel.

ELLWOOD E. RIESING. 

